Surf For The Soul 2008

Surf For The Soul was a charity event set up by my good friends Hiro and Cynthia from Kids Hurt Too, a non-profit that works with grieving kids who have lost family members. The idea was that the kids could have a great time surfing with some of the islands' best instructors, and learn something at the same time. Like life, the ocean can be tough and unforgiving. But if you can go with its flow and adapt to its challenges, it can be a great ride. For more info check out www.kidshurttoo.org.

I was lucky to be invited as a volunteer photographer for this event for the second time this year. I used a custom made water housing (Del Mar Housings) to shoot from the water, while my assistant Kyoko used a long lens from the beach. The ocean seems to have a way of helping people forget about their problems for a while. I could see what a great time these kids were having, which made it really fun for me to shoot. I think this comes through in the photos.

- Tor (May 4th, 2008)